Party holds emergency meeting on Hain

Jan 14 2008 icWales

Peter Hain's constituency party will hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss the donations furore.

Clive Phillips, president of the Neath Labour Party, said he hoped the meeting of senior officials on Wednesday would produce a statement of support for the embattled Cabinet minister.

Mr Phillips praised Mr Hain as an “excellent” MP and said he believed he was “honest as the day is long”.

“This business that he has found himself in now, anybody could have fallen into,” he told Press Association.

“At that moment in time he was doing three jobs, as an MP, Secretary of State for Wales and for Work and Pensions.

“Then he was doing hustings for the deputy leadership contest.

“He picked a team to look after (the donations) and he was let down by that team.

“The only thing he has done wrong as far as I am concerned was that he trusted his team.”

Mr Phillips said he expected around a dozen senior officials to attend the meeting on Wednesday, and insisted there was general support for the MP among rank-and-file members.

“Peter would not be involved in any dodgy dealings whatsoever,” he added. “He is as honest as the day is long.”